WEYMOUTH AND THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. 217 



arrived in Mid Dorset at the head of an army of upwards of 

 3,000 Horse, 1,500 Foot, and a train of artillery, besides such 

 reinforcements as he found in these parts. On Sunday, 

 February 23rd, there rang through besieged Melcombe the 

 cry, " The Cavalry," " The Cavalry," for, in truth, Goring, 

 leaving his main forces at Dorchester, had sent a detachment of 

 Horse and Foot which, with much beating of drums and 

 blowing of trumpets, was now approaching the town. 



There were those amongst Goring's troops who bore names 

 held high in honour in England, younger sons of great families 

 who had readily accepted commissions in the company known 

 in many a field of battle as " Goring's Horse." But they had 

 to reckon here with a resolute and sleepless foe. 



Goring, being joined by Sir Thomas Austin's and Cleveland's 

 Horse with some Foot, drew down in a body and 

 faced Sydenham all that day, but strange to say, no 

 summons came to surrender. The next day Sydenham 

 captured a work which Goring's troops had thrown up 

 about a furlong from the town at its north end, slaying 

 some of his men. 



PARLIAMENT REGAINS WEYMOUTH PROPER, FEBRUARY 

 25TH, 1645. 



On the following Tuesday (the 25th) an incident occurred, 

 apparently trivial, but which actually proved the turning 

 point in the contest. A party of Royalist Horse conveying pro- 

 visions to the town were completely routed by the Parliament 

 men and some prisoners were taken. The Royalists in the 

 Chapel Fort, apprised of this, sent out 100 Foot to 

 relieve their Horse, who were flying before the Roundheads, 

 and to regain the stores. Sydenham (who was then in the 

 field with his Horse), taking advantage of this circumstance, 

 adroitly drew out about 150 Musketeers, who, under the 

 command of Major Wilson and Captain Langford, crossed the 



